By John C. O'Connell
Students from each of the three Valley Stream elementary school districts and the high school district danced, displayed their art and performed a special concert on Saturday as a tribute to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, and in support of those they left behind eight months ago.
"An Afternoon of Remembrance, Patriotism and Community Spirit" brought well over a thousand people to the Village Green, including the spouses, children, other family members and friends of the 40 WTC victime who were Valley Stream residents, graduates of Valley Stream schools or family members of children or staff of Valley Stream public and parochial schools.
A large plaque was unveiled at the memorial ceremony, which will be placed permanently at Central High School. The plaque was inscribed with the words, "United We Stand in Loving Memory of Our Family, Friends and Neighbors Lost September 11, 2001, in the Attack on America. Remembrance by the Valley Stream Education Community."
Dr. Ronald D. Valenti, superintendent of the high school district, set the tone for the event, saying, "Welcome to you, the families of these heroes and brave patriots" who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attacks. "Thank you for allowing us to share this moment with you. We promise to always remember. We promise to never forget. Their courage was to accept the challenge of giving until they had no more life to give."
Andrew J. Walters, president of the high school district Board of Education, said, "Each of these individuals, in some way, touched the very core of our society, the education system here in Valley Stream. These men and women who are our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, friends and family, are examples to us all.
"They who so often in our times of joy shared our moment. Who is our times of doubt gave us hope. Who in our times of despair lifted our sprits, they are amongst us now...." Walters said. "They believed in America and the American way. We honor their work. We celebrate their lives."
Walters slowly read aloud each of the 40 names. "Let us reflect fondly on the memories," Walters said, as children, one by one, placed a flower near the commemorative plaque as a sign of love and respect.
The front rows were filled with dozens of family members and friends of those who died on Sept. 11. One of them was the widow of hero Port Authority Police Officer Walwyn Stuart, Jr., who saved hundreds that morning by sending a full train back to New Jersey from the World Trade Center PATH station minutes before the buildings fell.
"I think this was just great," Thelma Stuart said. "It's wonderful that the community can come together like this and that we support each other. I found the art show and this whole event to be very soothing. I'm thrilled to be part of this community. I really am."
Musical selections were performed by the District 24 Senior Orchestra conducted by Mark Huestis, the Community Band and Orchestra conducted by Dean Karahalis, the District Festival Chorus directed by Grace Kerr, and the Choruses of Districts 13 and 30.
United We Stand, an interpretive dance performance, was presented by the Central High School Dance Workshop directed by Susan Russo.
The event was organized by a 32-member committee of representatives from the Central High School District, elementary districts 13, 24 and 30, as well Blessed Sacrament and Holy Name of Mary parochial schools.
Remembered
Those whose lives were celebrated at Saturday's An Afternoon of Remembrance, Patriotism and Community Spirit:
Carl Asaro
Scott D. Bart
Bruce Boehm
Robert J. Caufield
Robert Crawford
Kevin Crotty
Joan Cullinan
Manuel DaMota
John DiGiovanni (lost at the WTC in the 1993 bombing)
Lee Fehling
Andrew K. Friedman
Edward F. Geraghty
Vincent F. Giammona
Jeffrey Grant Goldflam
Michael Hannan
James A. Haran
Michael Helmut Haub
Brian Hickey
Thomas A. Hobbs
Paul Jurgens
Thomas E. Jurgens
Joseph Kelly
Ronald Kloepfer
Amarnauth Lachhman
Rudy Mastrocinque
Orio J. Palmer
Andrew Rosenblum
Adam K. Ruhalter
Obdulio Ruiz-Diaz
John Sammartino
Mark Schwartz
Bruce E. Simmons
Lawrence T. Stack
Richard H. Stewart
Walwyn Stuart, Jr.
Madeline Amy Todd Sweeney
Glenn Thompson
Garo Voskerijian
Raymond R. York, Jr.
Joseph Zaccoli
